heki is a state-wide model project for the inclusive design of daycare centers in Hesse on the basis of the education and upbringing plan for children aged 0 – 10 in Hesse. The project is participatory in nature: We are looking for eight daycare centers as model locations that would like to regularly participate in a working group over a period of 2.5 years and benefit from numerous training opportunities and exchanges with other locations. Inclusive solutions for daycare centers are developed, tested and discussed together – a major concern is to live inclusive action, despite the challenging framework conditions. Inclusion is understood as the creation and promotion of structures that enable all children, regardless of their individual characteristics or needs, to participate equally in the educational process.

The working group forms the central body of the research process and is based on the action research approach, i.e. approaches are jointly developed, tested and, if necessary, adapted to enable a circular research process. It is made up of representatives of the model locations and project-accompanying scientists, if necessary on a temporary basis, inclusion consultants, trainers, family and interest groups.

It would be desirable for two to three employees per daycare center to participate, including one person with management responsibility. These people test the content of the working group in the form of small projects in their institutions, take part in training sessions, provide feedback and are thus a central part of the research process as “co-researchers”. At the same time, they can act as mediators between the WG and their colleagues and pass on their knowledge and approaches to their institutions. Through their role as co-researchers, they can help select and shape the necessary qualifications and thematic focuses together with the colleagues on site, children and families in their institution.

Participation in the pilot project offers you the opportunity to promote and reflect on inclusion-oriented institutional development, accompanied by professional exchange with science and practice. You and your institution can also play an active role in shaping inclusive solutions for Hesse.

In addition, it is possible to have participation in the pilot project credited towards the BEP lump sum for participating AG members.

This requires regular participation in the working group meetings and training content as well as the opportunity and willingness to reflect on and change attitudes, structures and practices in the institutions. This may also include the involvement of children and families as well as specialist counselors and providers, with whom contacts are established via the co-researchers.

A total of eleven dates are planned for the working group meetings. About half of the dates are planned as face-to-face events and the other half as digital meetings. The attendance dates will take place at various locations in Hesse. Any travel expenses incurred cannot be covered. We expect each appointment to take around four hours. Exact times for the dates cannot yet be definitively planned. They are planned in joint coordination.

The dates for the first three regular WG meetings are:

• 07.10.2024, 14:00 to 18:00 Giessen
• 03.12.2024, 14:00 to 18:00 (to be determined jointly in the first session)
• 19.02.2025, 14:00 to 18:00 digital

Possible additional dates for qualifications and networking and cooperation with an accompanying project advisory board, consisting of representatives from science, specialist policy and interest groups, can be added.

We will be happy to provide you with further information on the role of mediator and the qualifications at one of the digital information events for interested daycare centers on 09.07.24 at 11.00 a.m. or on 11.07.24 at 3.30 p.m. During this event, you will also have the opportunity to ask questions about participating as a model location. You can of course also contact us by e-mail and ask your questions or arrange a telephone appointment with us: kontakt@hessische-kitas-inklusiv.de

We would like to try to recruit as many different facilities as possible with different requirements for the model locations. In order to represent Hesse and its daycare centers as accurately as possible, we would like to ask you a few questions about your facility in the form of a questionnaire. Completion of the questionnaire is considered an application as a model location for heki. We ask you to provide general information about your institution, the employees and their (additional) qualifications, the pedagogical and professional work in your institution and a brief description of your motivation to participate in heki.